West Africa
West African cooking brings serious flavour energy: jollof rice, peanut stews, egusi, okra, cassava, yams, plantains, and enough Scotch bonnet heat to keep every dish interesting. Palm oil, smoked fish, and slow-simmered sauces turn humble staples into something you'll be thinking about for days.
Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire each bring their own swagger to the table, and yes, the great jollof rice rivalry is very real and very delicious no matter who wins. Suya skewers, fufu, and richly spiced one-pot dishes make West African food generous, communal, and endlessly shareable.
Breakfast
Moni
Breakfast
Beignets de Mil
Soups
Soupe de Poisson
Salads
Salade Malienne
Sides
Frites de Patate Douce
Desserts
Beignets de Banane de Sikasso
Breads
Massa
Holidays & Special Occasions
Zamé Festif
Lunches
Rice and Fish Nouadhibou-Style (Ceebu Jën Nouadhibien)
Appetizers
Dattes Farcies (Tamr Mahshi)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Aïch Al Eid
Breakfast
Aïch bi Halib
Breakfast
Khobz ma’ Tamr
Lunches
Couscous bil Laḥm
Appetizers
Fataya Mauritanienne
Soups
Chorba Mauritanienne
Soups
Soupe de Poisson Nouadhibou
Salads
Salade Mechouiya Mauritanienne
Salads
Salade de Dattes et Carottes
Mains
Tichtar
Mains
Couscous aux Sept Légumes
Sides
Couscous Roulé
Sides
Haricots Mauritaniens Sautés
Desserts
Dattes au Beurre
Desserts
Gâteau de Mil Mauritanien
Breads
Khobz Sahraoui
Breads
Tameez
Drinks
Atay
Drinks
Zrig
Street Food
Brochettes de Chameau
Street Food
Sfenj Mauritanien
Holidays & Special Occasions
Mechoui Nouakchott Festif
Breakfast
Pap and Akara (Ogi (Pap))
Salads
Moi Moi Salad Style
Salads
Nigerian Salad
Mains
Efo Riro
Mains
Banga Soup
Sides
Fried Plantain (Dodo)
Sides
Ekuru
Desserts
Puff-Puff Doughnut Style (Buns)
Breads
Agege Bread
Drinks
Zobo Drink
Drinks
Chapman
Street Food
Boli
Street Food
Kilishi
Holidays & Special Occasions
Christmas Rice and Chicken (Christmas Jollof and Fried Chicken)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Pounded Yam and Egusi for Celebrations (Iyan ati Egusi)
Breakfast
Akara
Lunches
Jollof Rice
Lunches
Egusi Soup
Appetizers
Puff-Puff
Appetizers
Suya
Soups
Pepper Soup
Soups
Ogbono Soup
Breakfast
Masa
Soups
Soupe de Poisson du Fleuve
Salads
Salade Nigérienne
Sides
Riz au Niébé
Breads
Fonio Flatbread (Galette de Fonio)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Riz Gras Festif
Breakfast
Akpan (Fermented Corn Pudding)
Breakfast
Bouillie de Mil au Lait (Millet Porridge with Milk)
Lunches
Riz Sauce Arachide (Rice with Peanut Sauce)
Lunches
Ayimolou (Togolese Rice and Beans)
Appetizers
Wagashi Frit (Fried Fulani Cheese with Pepper Sauce)
Appetizers
Boulettes de Poisson (Togolese Fish Balls)
Soups
Fetri Detsi (Okra and Fish Soup)
Soups
Gboma Dessi (Spinach and Meat Stew)
Salads
Salade d’Avocat Togolaise (Togolese Avocado Salad)
Salads
Salade de Papaye Verte (Green Papaya Salad)
Street Food
Koliko (Fried Yam Chips with Pepper)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Riz Gras de Fête (Festive Togolese Jollof-Style Rice)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Akpiti (Sweet Fried Dough Balls for Celebrations)
Mains
Pâte et Sauce d’Arachide (Corn Dough with Peanut Sauce)
Mains
Koklo Meme (Togolese Spiced Grilled Chicken)
Sides
Fufu (Pounded Yam)
Sides
Gari Foto (Gari with Tomato and Egg)
Breads
Ablo (Steamed Fermented Rice Cakes)
Breads
Pain Togolais (Togolese Breakfast Bread)
Drinks
Tchoukoutou (Traditional Millet Beer)
Drinks
Gnamakoudji (Spiced Ginger Juice)
Street Food
Klaklo (Spicy Plantain Fritters)
Breakfast
Ndambe
Breakfast
Porridge de Mil
Lunches
Thieboudienne
Lunches
Yassa Poulet
Soups
Soupou Kandia
Soups
Supu Kanja
Salads
Salade Niebe (Salade Niébé)
Salads
Avocado Mango Salad (Salade Avocat et Mangue)
Mains
Mafe
Mains
Yassa Poisson
Sides
Cere
Sides
Fried Plantain (Alloco)
Desserts
Thiakry
Breads
Tapalapa Bread (Pain Tapalapa)
Breads
Pain Senegalais
Drinks
Bissap
Drinks
Bouye
Street Food
Nems Senegalais
Street Food
Accara
Holidays & Special Occasions
Mouton Yassa
Holidays & Special Occasions
Ngalakh
Appetizers
Sierra Leonean Meat Pies
Soups
Egusi Soup (Melon Seed Soup)
Salads
Avocado and Tomato Salad
Salads
Sierra Leonean Potato Salad
Mains
Cassava Leaf Stew (Sierra Leone’s National Dish)
Mains
Groundnut Stew with Chicken
Sides
Fried Ripe Plantains (Aloco)
Desserts
Groundnut Cake (Peanut Brittle)
Breads
Sierra Leonean Rice Bread
Breads
Cassava Bread
Drinks
Poyo (Fresh Palm Wine)
Street Food
Puff Puff
Street Food
Suya (Spiced Grilled Beef Skewers)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Christmas Rice and Stew (Sierra Leonean Christmas Feast)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Foofoo and Palm Butter Soup for Naming Ceremonies
Breakfast
Akara (Black-Eyed Pea Fritters)
Breakfast
Ogi (Fermented Corn Porridge)
Lunches
Jollof Rice with Chicken
Lunches
Rice and Beans (Binch Rice)
Appetizers
Senegalese Fataya
Appetizers
Senegalese Pastels
Desserts
Senegalese Beignets de Banane
Appetizers
Sierra Leonean Fried Fish Cakes
Soups
Sierra Leonean Okra Soup
Sides
Sierra Leonean Fufu (Cassava Fufu)
Desserts
Sierra Leonean Chin Chin
Drinks
Sierra Leonean Ginger Beer
Appetizers
Malian Pastels
Desserts
Nigerian Chin Chin
Appetizers
Nigerien Fataya
Desserts
Nigerien Beignets de Banane
Desserts
Togolese Beignets de Banane (Banana Fritters)
Desserts
Togolese Gâteau de Manioc (Cassava Cake)
Breads
Nigerian Chapati
Breakfast
Nigerien Bouillie de Mil
Lunches
Nigerien Riz au Gras
Lunches
Nigerien Tô with Sauce Gombo (Tô ni Gombo)
Appetizers
Nigerien Beignets de Haricots (Beignets de Haricots (Kosé))
Soups
Nigerien Soupe de Gombo
Salads
Nigerien Salade de Mangue Verte
Mains
Nigerien Maafe (Maafe (Tigadèguèna))
Mains
Nigerien Fakoye
Sides
Nigerien Haricots Niébé Sautés
Desserts
Nigerien Dégué
Breads
Nigerien Tapalapa
Drinks
Nigerien Gnamakoudji
Drinks
Nigerien Jus de Tamarin
Street Food
Nigerien Dibi
Street Food
Nigerien Poisson Braisé
Holidays & Special Occasions
Nigerien Méchoui de Mouton
Lunches
Malian Riz au Gras
Lunches
Malian Tô with Sauce Gombo (Tô ni Gombo)
Appetizers
Malian Beignets de Haricots (Beignets de Haricots (Kosé))
Soups
Malian Soupe de Gombo
Salads
Malian Salade de Mangue Verte
Mains
Malian Maafe (Maafe (Tigadèguèna))
Mains
Malian Fakoye
Sides
Malian Haricots Niébé Sautés
Desserts
Malian Dégué
Breads
Malian Tapalapa
Drinks
Malian Gnamakoudji
Drinks
Malian Jus de Tamarin
Street Food
Malian Dibi
Street Food
Malian Poisson Braisé
Holidays & Special Occasions
Malian Méchoui de Mouton
Breakfast
Light Breakfast Foutou with Broth (Foutou wa Sauce Claire du Matin)
Breakfast
Sweet Plantain with Butter and Egg (Alloco au Beurre)
Lunches
Ivorian Slow-Cooked Chicken Stew (Kedjenou de Poulet)
Lunches
Ivorian One-Pot Jollof-Style Rice (Riz Gras)
Appetizers
Fried Sweet Plantain with Spicy Onion Sauce (Aloco)
Appetizers
Cassava Couscous with Shrimp (Attieke aux Crevettes)
Soups
Palm Nut Soup (Sauce Graine)
Soups
Okra Soup (Sauce Gombo)
Salads
Ivorian Avocado Salad (Salade d’Avocat Ivoirienne)
Salads
Green Papaya Salad (Salade de Papaye Verte)
Mains
Plantain Foutou with Peanut Sauce (Foutou Banane et Sauce Arachide)
Mains
Ivorian Grilled Fish (Poisson Braise a l’Ivoirienne)
Sides
Fermented Cassava Couscous (Attieke)
Sides
Pounded Yam (Igname Pilee)
Desserts
Ivorian Banana Fritters (Beignets de Banane)
Desserts
Millet and Yogurt Pudding (Degue)
Breads
Ivorian-Style Baguette Rolls (Pain Ivoirien)
Breads
Ivorian Corn Flatbread (Galette de Mais)
Drinks
Hibiscus Ginger Cooler (Bissap Ivoirien)
Drinks
Spiced Ginger Juice (Jus de Gingembre)
Street Food
Fried Tuna with Attieke (Garba)
Street Food
Ivorian Beef Skewers (Brochettes de Boeuf)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Festival-Style Whole Chicken Kedjenou (Kedjenou de Fete)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Celebration Rice with Meat and Vegetables (Riz au Gras de Celebration)
Breakfast
Liberian Rice Bread
Breakfast
Liberian Cassava Farina Porridge
Lunches
Liberian Cassava Leaf Rice Bowl
Lunches
Liberian Check Rice
Appetizers
Liberian Fried Plantains with Pepper Sauce
Appetizers
Liberian Meat Pie
Soups
Liberian Palm Butter Soup
Soups
Liberian Groundnut Soup
Salads
Liberian-Style Coleslaw
Salads
Liberian Avocado and Tomato Salad
Mains
Liberian Cassava Leaf Stew
Mains
Liberian Potato Greens
Sides
Liberian Dumboy
Sides
Liberian Fufu
Desserts
Liberian Sweet Potato Pone
Desserts
Liberian Kanyah
Breads
Liberian Coconut Bread
Breads
Liberian Cassava Bread
Drinks
Liberian Ginger Beer
Drinks
Liberian Palm Wine
Street Food
Liberian Kala
Street Food
Liberian Beef Skewers
Holidays & Special Occasions
Liberian Thanksgiving Roast Chicken
Holidays & Special Occasions
Liberian Goat Pepper Soup for Celebrations
Breakfast
Pão Guineense com Manteiga de Caju (Bissau Bread Rolls with Cashew Butter)
Lunches
Arroz de Peixe (Bissau Fish and Rice)
Lunches
Feijão Fradinho com Arroz (Black-Eyed Pea and Rice Bowl)
Appetizers
Abacate Recheado com Atum (Stuffed Avocado with Tuna)
Appetizers
Camarões à Guineense (Bissau-Style Shrimp with Cucumber and Onion)
Breakfast
Fonio Porridge
Breakfast
Sweet Potato and Millet Porridge
Lunches
Guinean Rice with Meat and Vegetables
Lunches
Cassava Leaf Stew
Appetizers
Black-Eyed Pea Fritters
Appetizers
Fried Plantains with Pepper Sauce
Soups
Peanut Soup
Soups
Guinean Okra Soup
Salads
Avocado and Mango Salad
Salads
Guinean Coleslaw
Mains
Guinean Braised Chicken
Mains
Fonio with Peanut Sauce and Fish
Sides
Fonio Couscous
Sides
Sautéed Cassava with Onions
Desserts
Guinean Banana Fritters
Desserts
Coconut Rice Pudding
Breads
Guinean Corn Bread
Breads
Guinean Fried Dough Balls
Drinks
Ginger Juice
Drinks
Baobab Fruit Juice
Street Food
Grilled Skewered Meat
Street Food
Roasted Corn on the Cob
Holidays & Special Occasions
Ceremonial Peanut Chicken
Holidays & Special Occasions
Tabaski Roasted Lamb
Breakfast
Xerém de Milho (Bissau Corn Porridge)
Soups
Caldo de Chabéu (Wild Palm Nut Soup)
Soups
Sopa de Quiabo (Okra Soup)
Salads
Salada de Manga Verde (Green Mango Salad)
Salads
Salada de Feijão Fradinho (Black-Eyed Pea Salad)
Mains
Caldo de Mancarra (Guinea-Bissau Peanut Stew)
Mains
Cafriela de Frango (Guinea-Bissau Marinated Chicken)
Sides
Mandioca Frita (Fried Cassava)
Sides
Quiabo Guisado (Stewed Okra with Palm Oil)
Desserts
Bolo de Caju (Cashew Cake)
Desserts
Ravias Guineenses (Sweet Fried Pastries)
Breads
Pão Bissau-Guineense (Bissau-Style Portuguese Rolls)
Breads
Cuscuz de Mil (Village Millet Couscous)
Drinks
Vinho de Caju (Cashew Fruit Wine)
Drinks
Vinho de Palma (Palm Wine)
Street Food
Espetadas de Camarão Grelhado (Grilled Shrimp Skewers)
Street Food
Pastéis de Peixe (Fried Fish Pastries)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Arroz de Marisco Festivo (Festive Seafood Rice)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Frango Grelhado do Dia da Independência (Independence Day Grilled Chicken)
Breakfast
Tom Brown Porridge (Roasted Maize & Soy Porridge)
Lunches
Waakye (Rice and Beans)
Lunches
Red Red (Bean Stew with Fried Plantain)
Appetizers
Koose (Ghanaian Bean Fritters)
Breakfast
Hausa Koko (Spiced Millet Porridge)
Appetizers
Ghanaian Meat Pie
Soups
Light Soup (Nkrakra)
Soups
Groundnut Soup (Nkate Nkwan)
Salads
Ghanaian Avocado Salad
Salads
Garden Egg and Tomato Salad
Mains
Ghanaian Jollof Rice
Mains
Fufu with Palm Nut Soup
Sides
Boiled Yam with Kontomire Stew (Palava Sauce)
Sides
Gari Foto (Spiced Gari with Egg and Vegetables)
Desserts
Tatale (Sweet Plantain Pancakes)
Desserts
Coconut Rock Buns
Breads
Ga Kenkey (Fermented Corn Dumplings)
Breads
Ghanaian Sugar Bread (Tea Bread)
Drinks
Sobolo (Hibiscus Drink)
Drinks
Asaana (Fermented Corn and Ginger Drink)
Street Food
Kelewele (Spiced Fried Plantain)
Street Food
Bofrot (Ghanaian Doughnuts)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Kpokpoi (Homowo Festival Corn and Palm Nut Dish)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Eto (Mashed Yam and Egg for Naming Ceremonies)
Breakfast
Akara (Gambian Bean Fritters)
Breakfast
Ndogu (Fermented Millet Porridge)
Lunches
Benachin (One-Pot Jollof Rice with Fish)
Lunches
Domoda (Groundnut Stew with Beef and Rice)
Appetizers
Fataya (Fried Pastries with Spiced Meat)
Appetizers
Pastels (Fried Fish Pastries)
Soups
Superkanja (Okra and Smoked Fish Soup)
Soups
Gambian Fish Head Pepper Soup (Sup Bonga)
Salads
Salatu (Tomato, Onion and Cucumber Salad)
Salads
Gambian Black-Eyed Pea Salad (Salatu Niebe)
Mains
Chicken Yassa (Onion-Lemon Marinated Chicken) (Yassa Ginaar)
Mains
Plasas (Cassava Leaf and Palm Oil Stew with Meat)
Sides
Gambian Fufu (Cassava Fufu)
Sides
Chereh (Steamed Couscous with Baobab Leaf Sauce)
Desserts
Chakery (Sweet Couscous with Yogurt and Raisins)
Desserts
Ngalakh (Baobab and Peanut Butter Pudding)
Breads
Tapalapa (Gambian French-Style Bread Rolls)
Breads
Gambian Coconut Bread (Bread Coco)
Drinks
Wonjo (Hibiscus Sorrel Drink)
Drinks
Bouye (Baobab Fruit Juice)
Street Food
Dibi (Grilled Spiced Lamb Skewers)
Street Food
Fried Yam with Pepper Sauce (Nyambi Tosti)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Tobaski Roast Lamb (Eid al-Adha Feast) (Yambaa Tobaski)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Chura Gerteh (Sweet Millet Couscous for Naming Ceremonies)
Appetizers
Pastéis de Atum (Cape Verdean Tuna Pastries)
Desserts
Bolo de Fubá (Cape Verdean Cornmeal Cake)
Sides
Arroz Cabo-verdiano (Cape Verdean Seasoned Rice)
Desserts
Doce de Papaia (Cape Verdean Papaya Sweet)
Street Food
Isca de Peixe Frito (Fried Fish Bites)
Soups
Sopa de Peixe (Cape Verdean Fish Soup)
Drinks
Sumo de Tamarindo (Cape Verdean Tamarind Juice)
Lunches
Arroz de Marisco (Cape Verdean Seafood Rice)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Doce de Coco (Cape Verdean Coconut Sweet)
Mains
Modjo de Peixe (Cape Verdean Fish Stew)
Sides
Feijão Congo (Cape Verdean Pigeon Pea Side)
Breakfast
Cuscuz de Milho (Steamed Corn Cuscuz)
Street Food
Milho Assado (Cape Verdean Grilled Corn)
Salads
Salada de Polvo (Cape Verdean Octopus Salad)
Appetizers
Camarão Grelhado (Grilled Garlic Shrimp)
Drinks
Grogue (Cape Verdean Sugarcane Spirit)
Breakfast
Papas de Milho (Cape Verdean Corn Porridge)
Breads
Pão Quente Cabo-verdiano (Cape Verdean Hot Bread Rolls)
Soups
Canja de Galinha Cabo-verdiana (Cape Verdean Chicken Soup)
Mains
Cachupa Rica (Rich Festive Cachupa)
Salads
Salada Crioula (Cape Verdean Creole Salad)
Breads
Broa de Milho (Cape Verdean Corn Bread)
Lunches
Cachupa Leve (Light Everyday Cachupa)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Galinha de Festa (Cape Verdean Festive Chicken)
Appetizers
Accara (Black-Eyed Pea Fritters)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Méchoui de Mouton (Whole Roasted Sheep)
Desserts
Fromage Peul au Miel (Fulani Cheese with Honey)
Lunches
Tô au Sauce Gombo (Millet Paste with Okra Sauce)
Drinks
Bissap (Hibiscus Flower Drink)
Lunches
Riz Gras (Burkinabe Rice with Meat and Vegetables)
Salads
Salade de Niébé (Black-Eyed Pea Salad)
Street Food
Kilishi (Spiced Dried Meat)
Breads
Galette de Mil (Millet Flatbread)
Breads
Petit Pain Burkinabè (Burkinabe Bread Roll)
Soups
Soupe d’Arachide (Peanut Soup)
Salads
Salade de Concombre et Tomate (Cucumber and Tomato Salad)
Drinks
Zoom-koom (Ginger Millet Drink)
Breakfast
Beignets Sucrés (Sweet Fried Dough Balls)
Sides
Haricots à la Sauce Tomate (Beans in Tomato Sauce)
Mains
Ragoût de Viande à la Sauce Arachide (Meat Stew in Peanut Sauce)
Sides
Fonio aux Légumes (Fonio with Vegetables)
Desserts
Dègue (Millet Couscous with Yogurt)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Riz au Gras de Fête (Festive Jollof-Style Rice)
Street Food
Brochettes de Viande (Grilled Meat Skewers)
Soups
Soupe de Poisson (Burkinabe Fish Soup)
Appetizers
Beignets de Poisson (Fried Fish Fritters)
Mains
Poulet Bicyclette Grillé (Grilled Free-Range Chicken)
Breakfast
Burkinabe Bouillie de Mil (Millet Porridge)
Drinks
Jus de Gingembre (Spiced Ginger Juice)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Riz au Gras de Fête
Lunches
Riz Gras (Beninese-Style Jollof Rice)
Breakfast
Ata / Akara (Beninese Bean Fritters)
Desserts
Puff-Puff Béninois (Fried Dough Balls)
Soups
Soupe de Poisson à la Béninoise (Beninese Fish Soup)
Lunches
Pâte Rouge (Corn Paste with Tomato-Pepper Sauce)
Appetizers
Wagasi Frit (Fried Beninese Cheese)
Breakfast
Bouillie de Maïs (Beninese Corn Porridge)
Street Food
Brochettes Béninoises (Grilled Meat Skewers)
Sides
Gari Nature (Steamed Cassava Semolina)
Mains
Amiwo (Corn Dough with Spicy Tomato Sauce)
Breads
Pain Béninois (Local Bread Rolls)
Salads
Salade d’Avocat et Gari (Avocado and Gari Salad)
Salads
Salade de Tomates Béninoise (Beninese Tomato Salad)
Desserts
Beninese Beignets de Banane (Banana Fritters)
Breads
Galette de Maïs (Corn Flatbread)
Street Food
Aloko (Fried Ripe Plantains)
Holidays & Special Occasions
Poulet Rôti des Fêtes
Drinks
Bissap (Hibiscus Iced Tea)
Soups
Soupe Kpétè (Beninese Meat and Vegetable Soup)
Mains
Poulet Sauce Arachide (Chicken in Peanut Sauce)
Sides
Igname Pilée (Pounded Yam)
Appetizers
Kluiklui (Spiced Peanut Cakes)